Audio frequency receiver

ABSTRACT

A magnetically operable audio frequency receiver which is adapted to be carried by a person, adjacent an ear of the person. The receiver is disposed within a limited area which is encompassed by a transmission loop. The receiver includes a pickup coil. Transmission of energy occurs by audio frequency inductive forces from the transmission loop to the pickup coil of the receiver. The receiver or a portion thereof is rotatably supported so that the axis of the pickup coil can be adjusted with respect to the transmission loop for control of the volume output of the receiver. The receiver has an energy cell or battery support member which not only supports the battery but also serves as a switch.

United States Patent Self et al. 1 Aug. 29, 1972 [54] AUDIO FREQUENCYRECEIVER [72] Inventors: Aaron C. Self, 5741 Seven Gables Pmlmry ClaffyAve Madison Township M Ass1stantExammer--W1ll 1am A. Helvestme gomeryCounty, Ohio 45426; James Attorney-Norman R. Wrssmger J. Larkins, 331 W.Hudson Ave., Dayton, Ohio 45406 [57] ABSIRACT A magnetically operableaudio frequency receiver [22] May 1970 which is adapted to be carried bya person, adjacent [21] App]. No 34,133 an ear of the person. Thereceiver is disposed within a limited area which is encompassed by atransmission U S Cl 179/82 179/107 H loop. The receiver includes apickupcoil. 51 Int. (:1 ..I-l04b 65/00, H04r 25/00 T raqsmission of gy Occursy a d frequency [58] Field at Search ..179/82, 107 H ducflve forces fromthe transmlsslon p to the pickup coil of the receiver. The receiver or aportion [56] References Cited thereof is rotatably supported so that theaxis of the pickup coil can be adjusted with respect to the trans-UNITED STATES PATENTS mission loop for control of the volume output ofthe receiver. The receiver has an energy cell or battery g' g supportmember which not only supports the battery b t 1 3,042,750 7/1962 Siezin..179 82 so serves as a C 3,078,348 2/1963 McIntosh ..179/82 4 Claims, 7Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEn M1829 m2 INVENTOR AARON C. SELF JAMES J.LARKINS ATTORNEY AUDIO FREQUENCY RECEIVER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Innumerous types of gatherings of people, it is necessary or beneficial tohave means provided for communication to selected individual persons inthe gathering. For example in a baseball park, football stadium, or thelike, a special running account of the athletic action may betransmitted to certain persons who pay for such service. During aconvention of many people, certain persons may wish to be in a positionto receive special messages while being located among others who do notreceive the messages. There are many other types of situations in whicha receiver of this invention is of particular use. In most if not all ofsuch situations it is important that the receiver be compact, light inweight, and easy to operate. Especially is this so where the receiver isto be worn on or about the ear of the person to receive the information.

It is an object of this invention to provide audio frequency receivermeans for communication with selected persons in a gathering thereof.

It is another object of this invention to provide such audio frequencyreceiver means which is small in physical size and weight and which iseasily carried or retained by a person in a group of persons.

It is another object of this invention to provide such audio frequencyreceiver means in which the volume of output thereof can be readilyadjusted without altering the efficiency of operation of the receivermeans.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination batteryholder and switch for electronic circuitry.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of theinvention, combinations thereof, the method of manufacture, and the modeof operation, as will become more apparent from the followingdescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a perspective exploded viewof a receiver device of this invention and support means therefor.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the receiver device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, drawn on substantially the samescale as FIG. 2 and showing a portion of the receiver device thereof.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of circuitry which may be employed in a receiverdevice of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing a receiver device of thisinvention within a transmission loop.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a receiver device of this invention anda support member therefor and showing diagrammatically the pickup coilthereof.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the receiverdevice in another rotative position with respect to the support member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A receiver device of thisinvention comprises a housing I0 which is provided with a major cavity12 and a minor cavity 14. The major cavity 12 has a recess 16 withinwhich a speaker 20 is disposed. Adjacent the speaker 28 and within themain cavity 12 is an insulating disc 22 which is provided with aplurality of holes 24 through which electric conductors, notspecifically shown, extend and join the speaker 20 to circuitry which iscarried by a panel 28. The panel 28 supports transistors 40, resistors42 and capacitors 44, which are a part of the circuitry shown in thediagram of FIG. 4. The panel 28 also supports the electric conductormembers 50 which join the transistors 40, the resistors 42 and thecapacitors 44. Preferably, the conductor members 50 are printed upon thepanel 28.

A pickup coil 54, shown in FIG. 4, encompasses a suitable magnetizablecore 56. The core 56 is any suitable ferrous material, such as ferriteor the like. The coil 54 and the coil 56 are, preferably, disposedwithin a body 58 of suitable covering material, such as a plasticmaterial or the like. Electric conductor members 60 extend from the coil54 and from the body 58. At least one of the conductor members 60 isattached directly to another portion of the circuitry, as illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 4. The body 58 is partially disposed within a socket 61 of acover member 62.

A conductor ring 68 is disposed within the minor cavity 14 and issecured thereto by any suitable means, not shown. One of the electricconductor members 60 is attached to the conductor ring 68, as shown inFIG. 2. The conductor ring 68 has internal threads which are threadedlyjoined to an electrically conductive threaded portion 70 of a cap 72.The threaded portion 70, through the conductor ring 68, is thuselectrically joined to the conductor 60.

A energy cell, for example a battery 74, is partially disposed withinthe cap 72 and has a portion which is electrically connected to thethreaded portion 70 thereof. The battery 74 has a conductive end portion76 which is engageable with a resilient leaf 78 by threadedly moving thecap 72 toward the leaf 78. The resilient leaf 78 is disposed within theminor cavity 14 and has a stem 80 which extends upwardly into the majorcavity 12. The stem 80 is in electrical contact with a portion of theconductor members 50, as illustrated in the diagram of FIG. 4. When thebattery 74 is spaced from the leaf 78 as shown in FIG. 2, there is nocurrent flow from the battery 74 to the circuitry. When the battery 74is in engagement with the leaf 78 as shown in FIG. 3, current flows fromthe battery 74 to the circuitry. Thus, the battery 74 serves as a sourceof energy, and the battery 74 as it is carried by the adjustable capmember 72 serves as a switch member as the battery 74 is moved into andout of engagement with the leaf 78 as the cap member 72 is threadedlyadj usted with respect to the conductor ring 68.

The housing 10 has an annular extension portion or flange 81 forattachment to a support member 82. The support member 82 has an annularconnector portion 84 which encompasses the annular flange 81 of thehousing It) and rotatably attaches the connectof'portion 84 to theflange 81. The support member 82 also has a hook portion 86 which isadapted to hook over a persons ear. The housing 10 has internal openings88 adjacent to the flange 81 and the speaker 20 which communicate withthe opening formed by the annular flange 81. Thus, as the hook portion86 of the support member 82 is hooked over a persons ear, the speaker 28within the housing 10 transmits sound directly into the persons ear. Itis to be understood that the housing 10 may be rotatably supportedadjacent a persons ear by any suitable means other than the supportmember 82 having the hook portion 86 and that the flange 81 may beinserted in the opposite side of the support member 82 to be worn overeither ear.

A receiver device of this invention is adapted to be positioned within atransmission loop 90 illustrated in FIG. 5, which encompasses a givenarea, such as a sports arena, convention hall, or the like. Preferablythe entire loop 90 is substantially within a given plane. A suitableaudio amplifier, not shown, is connected to terminals 92 of the loop 90for input thereto. Thus, as sound is applied to the audio amplifier,current which has a varying magnitude and frequency flows in the loop94). The frequency and magnitude of the current flowing in the loop 90are proportional to the sound which is introduced into the amplifier.Therefore, magnetic forces which are proportional to the sound areinduced in the pickup coil 54 and the core 56 of the receiver device.Thus the circuitry of the receiver device provides a proportional audiosignal to the speaker 20, and the audio signal is transmitted to the earof the person who has the receiver device adjacent his ear.

Of course, it is to be understood that the receiver device operates onlywhen the battery or energy cell 74 is fully connected to the circuitry.This full connection occurs when the battery or energy cell 74 is inengagement with the leaf '78, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Thus, no switchmember, as such, is required in the receiver device of this invention.When it is desired to de-energize the receiver device, the cap member 72is threadedly rotated to move the cap 72 and the battery 74 in adirection away from the leaf 78.

When it is desired to adjust the volume of the sound which emanates fromthe speaker 20, the housing 10 is rotatively moved with respect to thesupport member 82. Such rotative movement of the housing 10 changes theangle of the axis of the pickup coil 54 with respect to a plane whichpasses through the loop 90. FIGS. 5 and 6 show the pickup coil 54 as theaxis thereof is substantially normal to a plane extending through theloop 90. In such position, maximum volume output is generated in thespeaker 20. FIG. 7 shows the axis of the pickup coil 54 substantiallyparallel to a plane passing through the loop 90. In such position,minimum volume output is generated in the speaker 20. Therefore, nospecific volume control element, such as adjustable resistor means arerequired in a receiver device of this invention. Thus, the cost of aseparate volume control element is eliminated and the efficiency of thecircuitry is not altered by adjustment in the volume output of thespeaker 20. Therefore, as the receiver device is supported by thesupport member 82, which is hooked over a persons ear or otherwise heldby the person, the housing 10 and thus the pickup coil 54 is adjustablyrotatably movable with respect to the sup port member 82 for adjustingthe volume output of the speaker 20 which is positioned adjacent thepersons ear. This volume adjustment does not add to the size or weightof the receiver and has the further important advantage that it may bemade while the receiver is actually adjacent the ear of the user and maybe conveniently modified to accommodate such changes in the normalpositioning of the device as are dictated by the contours of the headand ear of the wearer and/or the most comfortable association of theunit with the ear.

The invention having thus been described, the following is claimed:

1. A receiver apparatus adapted to be disposed within a loop which hasan audio frequency signal applied thereto, the loop being substantiallywithin a given plane, comprising a receiver coil adapted to have currentmagnetically induced therein by the signal applied to the loop, anamplifier and speaker, means connecting the receiver coil to theamplifier and speaker and means for rotating the receiver coil withrespect to the plane of the loop so that the volume of the output of theamplifier and speaker is changed, wherein said receiver includes anenergy cell, support means sup porting the energy cell, contact means,means electrically connecting the support means and the contact means tothe amplifier, the support means having a moveable portion for movingthe energy cell into engagement with the contact member to energize theamplifier and for moving the energy cell out of engagement with thecontact member for de-energizing the amplifier.

2. The receiver apparatus of claim 1 in which the support means includesa fixed element and a movable element, the energy cell being supportedby the movable element.

3. The receiver apparatus of claim 2 in which the movable element andthe fixed element are threadedly joined one to the other, with themovable element being threadedly movable with respect to the fixedelement.

4. The receiver apparatus of claim 1 which includes support structureand a housing rotatably carried by the support structure, the receivercoil and the amplifier and the speaker and the energy cell being withinthe housing and movable therewith.

1. A receiver apparatus adapted to be disposed within a loop which hasan audio frequency signal applied thereto, the loop being substantiallywithin a given plane, comprising a receiver coil adapted to have currentmagnetically induced therein by the signal applied to the loop, anamplifier and speaker, means connecting the receiver coil to theamplifier and speaker and means for rotating the receiver coil withrespect to the plane of the loop so that the volume of the output of theamplifier and speaker is changed, wherein said receiver includes anenergy cell, support means supporting the energy cell, contact means,means electrically connecting The support means and the contact means tothe amplifier, the support means having a moveable portion for movingthe energy cell into engagement with the contact member to energize theamplifier and for moving the energy cell out of engagement with thecontact member for deenergizing the amplifier.
 2. The receiver apparatusof claim 1 in which the support means includes a fixed element and amovable element, the energy cell being supported by the movable element.3. The receiver apparatus of claim 2 in which the movable element andthe fixed element are threadedly joined one to the other, with themovable element being threadedly movable with respect to the fixedelement.
 4. The receiver apparatus of claim 1 which includes supportstructure and a housing rotatably carried by the support structure, thereceiver coil and the amplifier and the speaker and the energy cellbeing within the housing and movable therewith.